We employ sequence analysis techniques to evaluate the myriad of different pathways individuals take through the education system into the labour market. Using data from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE), matched to administrative records from the National Pupil Database (NPD), we compare the trajectories of individuals through compulsory and post-compulsory education and examine their early labour market outcomes, measured at age 25. We employ cluster analysis to identify groups of individuals who experience more similar education-employment transitions and examine the characteristics that could potentially be used to target those who are more at risk of poorer education and early labour market outcomes. As well as GCSE performance at age 16, particularly in Maths and English, we find that parental advice and aspirations, and attitudes towards HE formed by age 14, are all important in predicting individuals’ pathways through post-compulsory education and into work.

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